The Collapse of Reconstruction

Section 12-3

Opposition to Reconstruction

• Ku Klux Klan – Founded as a Confederate

veterans’ group– Turned into a terrorist

organization – Goal: Restore white

supremacy in the South

Opposition to Reconstruction

• Ku Klux Klan (continued) – Tactics• Used intimidation and

violence to keep African Americans from voting • Intimidates whites who

supported African Americans• Attempted to reinstate

Democratic political power in the South

Opposition to Reconstruction

• Enforcement Act: – Federal supervision of elections in South– Use federal troops where KKK is active – Declared unconstitutional in 1882

Opposition to Reconstruction

• Amnesty Act– Gave the right to vote and to hold office back to

former Confederate generals and officials. – Severely weakened Republican power.

Scandals and Crises Hurt Republicans

• Grant’s Presidency – Grant is politically inexperienced – Many of his appointees are

dishonest and corrupt• Three of his appointees were

proven to have taken bribes– Liberal Republicans opposed

Grant• Weakened unity and power of

Republicans

Economic Turmoil

• Panic of 1873 – Created by over-investments in the South– 5 year economic depression

Democrats “Redeem” the South

• Redemption: Democrats regain control of state legislatures in the South

• Election of 1876– Rutherford B. Hayes (Republican) loses popular

vote, but Republicans in the Senate award him the electoral votes needed for a victory.

Democrats “Redeem” the South• Compromise of 1877– Democrats in the House

of Representatives must approve Hayes in exchange for an end of federal supervision.

• Failure of Reconstruction